Process of manufacturing graph ophone-tablets



(No Model.)

C. E. HADLEY.

PROCESS 0F MANUFACTURING GRAPHOPHONB TABLETS. No. 392,796. PatentedNov. 18 1888.

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CHARLES E. HADLEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE VOLTA GRAPHOPHONE COMPANY, OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING GRAPHOPHONE=TABLETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,796, dated November 13, 1888.

Application filed May 31, 158B.

.To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, OHARLEs E. I-IADLEY, of Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of lVaX or Vax-Coated Tablets for use in Graphophones and Similar Apparatus, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of xo wax or wax-coated tablets for use in graphephones, or apparatus for recording and reproducing sounds. p

As ordinarily constructed the wax surface in which the record is made is usually supported by a tube or cylinder of paper or similar material.

In the preparation of the wax tablet certain conditions must be secured in order to obtain the best results in recording and reproducing. 2o The Wax must have a perfectly smooth and true surface, and it must be free from aiivbubbles. This latter condition is of great importance and its attainment involves considerable difficulty. It is found that, notwithstanding the utmost care in the preparation of the wax, the presence of minute bubbles cannot be entirely avoided.

The object ofthe present invention is to secure the favorable conditions above indicated, and generally to produce in a simple and eX- peditious manner graphophonic tablets suitable for practical use.

In carrying out the invention a paper tube or cylinder, made in any suitable Way, may be used as the foundation of the tablet, and a coating of wax may be applied to it in any suitable way, as by immersion in a bath of melted wax or otherwise. The tablet is then passed through a smoothing-die heated-as by a surrounding water bath-to about the temperature of boiling water. In passing through this die the was is melted and all airbubbles expelled, and as the result of this step the surface is made comparatively smooth and true. In this condition the tablet could be used for practical purposes; but it is desirable, in order to attain the best results, to submit it to a further operation, as hereinafter indicated. Ihe surface of the wax after passing through the smoothingdie one or more Seriul No. 275,566. (No model.)

times remains slightly. granular and presents a dull appearance, to remove which it is next passed through what is herein termed the polishing'die7 This is a steel die accurately iitting the cylinder externally, and it is heated, in any suitable way, to such tempera` ture as to produce a highly-polished smooth surface. To attain this result the regulation of the temperature is of great importance. The proper temperature may be found experi- 6C mentally by observation of the appearance of the wax coating after passing through the die.

If the wax exhibits a dull surface, it shows that the die is too hot. If, on the other hand,

it presents longitudinal streaks, the die is too cold. As the limits within which the proper results are obtained are narrow, care must be exercised in this particular. Generally it may be said that the temperature of the polishingdie should be from about 1750 to 190o Fahren- 7o heit; but as this may be found to vary with different kinds of wax, as well as with the temperature of the wax itself, the safest course is to determine the temperature by observation ofthe results, as above pointed out. This step of the process may of course be used in nishing tablets independently of the use of the smoothing-die, or when some other mode of treatment has been used preliminarily to the polishing operation.

The accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification7 illustrate simple apparatus suitable for use in carrying out the process, though of course the invention is not limited to the apparatus shown,which is given merely by way of example.

Figure I is an elevation, partly in section, of the smoothing -die; Fig. II, a plan View thereof; Fig. III, a side elevation illustrating the polishingv die; Fig. IV, a partial front view 9e thereof; and Fig. V a partial vertical section.

A is a metal vessel adapted to contain Water for the purpose of heating the smoothingdie B, which at its ends is fastened to the top and'bottom of vessel A, and is entirely sur- 95 rounded by the water of the bath.

The die B should be three or fourinches long, so that in passing through it the wax-coated cylinder may bein contact with the heated surface long enough to soften the wax throughout 10o and to expel all the air-bubbles. The vessel A is shown as supported above a gas-stove, M, for the purpose of heating the bath.

The polishing-die C is a iiat and comparatively thin plate, preferably of steel, having a cylindrical die-opening corresponding in size to the diameter of tablet a. As shown, it is screwed to a horizontal plate or support, D, sustained by vertical rods E, which also constitute guideways for the carrier F. The carrier F can slide vertically on the rods E, being raised by a cord, f, and allowed to descend by gravity. Carrier F has a guide-tube, g, surrounding one of the rods E.

To the under side of carrier F is attached a core, G, exactly opposite to the die C. The end of core G is of a size to tit the tablet ainternally, and it is provided with a shoulder, g', against which the end of the tablet abuts, the diameter ofthe core above the shoulder g being such that it will pass freely through die C.

The carrier F may be provided with weights H to give it proper momentum and overcome resistance to the cylinder in passing through the die. Springs h, surrounding rods E and resting on plate or support D, act as buffers to check the descent of the carrier and prevent a sudden jar.

As shown, a ring gas-burner, ll, is placed under the support or plate l) for the purpose of heating the die C to the proper temperature, though obviously other means for heating the same may be adopted. The heat must be regulated by the key of the gas-burner to keep the die C at the proper temperature, as hcreinbefore set forth.

The operation of finishing the tablet is performed as follows: The tablet (t, having received its coating of wax, which may be applied roughly or without great care, is passed through the smoothing-die B, the latter being heated by the hot-water bath to about the temperature of boiling Water, and this may be repeated several'times, if desired, or until all air-bubbles are removed and a comparatively smooth and even surface obtained. The tablet a is then placed on the end of core G, the

yished surface.

carrier F being raised by means of cord f, and guide K, Fig. V, which may be a wooden cylinder having a conical point, is fitted in the lower end of the tablet to center it accurately in passing through the die C. Carrier F is then allowed to descend, the tablet a passing rapidly through die C, receiving a highly-pol- 'lhis operation may likewise be repeated, if desirable or necessary.'

The tablets may, if desired, be made in tubes of considerable length,and after smoothing and polishing be cut into cylinders of the standard size for use in graphophones.

It will, of course, be understood that the term wax as herein used includes, generally, such waxy compositions or mixtures as are suitable for use as the recording medium oi" graphophones.

Having now fully described my said invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, what I claim isl. In the art of manufacturing wax or waxcoated tablets for use in graphophones,theim provcment consisting in passing the tablet through a smoothing-die heated to a temperature above themelting-point of said wax, substantiall y as described.

2. The process of preparing wax or waxcoated tablets for use in graphophones, which process consists in passing the tablet through a smoothing-die heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the wax and expel the air-bubbles and then passing the tablet through a polishing-die heated to substantially the temperature hereinbefore set forth.

3. vThe process of imparting a finish and polish to a tablet having a surface of wax, said process consisting in passing the tablet through a die heated to substantially the temperature hereinbeforc set forth,

In testimony whereof I have signed this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. IIADLEY.

Witnesses:

(J1-ms. S. Tam'rmz, llnrmr Manno. 

